The eleven rules a regular fan lives by.
An eleven-rule discipline is what keeps a regular fan's interest alive across a 70-match league, across multiple seasons, across new platforms. They are not a moral code; they are an editorial discipline.
Rule 1 — Read the venue before any prediction.
Two seasons of venue behaviour outrank any single player's reputation. Read the venue first, the player second. The venue tells you where this match is going; the player tells you who.
Rule 2 — Walk the lineup back 10 minutes before lock.
Walk back to the rationale 10 minutes before the deadline. The four-refresh rule caps indecision. Refresh four times maximum, then lock the lineup.
Rule 3 — Pick 3-5 differentials per lineup.
A lineup without differentials is a copy of the public. A lineup with 8 differentials is indistinguishable from a random lineup. The middle is the desk target.
Rule 4 — Use the impact-player slot only when independent.
An impact-player substitution is free only when the decision is independent of the rest of the lineup. Use it on a specialist swap, an all-rounder lift, or an anchor swap. Don't use it for cosmetics.
Rule 5 — Audit a wrong prediction in public.
Publish every wrong prediction as an after-the-match audit. A public audit is more credible than a perfect record. The audit is the editorial product.
Rule 6 — Read pressers before reading social.
The verification ladder starts with the official presser and ends with the social post. Read in that order every time. Social posts are the last source, not the first.
Rule 7 — Keep a written deposit limit.
A monthly deposit cap written down before the first deposit. If you cannot write it, you cannot afford the contest.
Rule 8 — Complete KYC before the first deposit.
Complete KYC first. Withdrawals almost always require the same KYC to succeed. KYC-completion before deposit prevents surprises at withdrawal.
Rule 9 — Use an authenticator app, never SMS alone.
SMS-based 2-step is better than nothing, but it is vulnerable to SIM-swap. Use an authenticator app or, where supported, a physical security key.
Rule 10 — Treat 18+ as non-negotiable.
Eighteen-plus is non-negotiable. The desk never recommends a contest below 18. State-by-state eligibility must be verified before any deposit.
Rule 11 — Read your platform's self-exclusion path.
Read the platform's self-exclusion path before joining a contest. The path is your break-glass option — present, documented, and tested in advance.
